Simple Present

We use the Simple Present to:

• Talk about things that are always true

• Talk abaout repaeated and usual actions

• Talk about habits and routines

Form and Basic Meaning of the Simple Present Tense

SINGULAR PLURAL

1st person I talk we talk 2nd person you talk you talk3rd person he talks they talk she talks it talks

Notice: The verb after she, he, it (3rd person singular) has a final s: talks.

Examples:

(a) I eat breakfast every morning.(b) Ann speaks English every day.(c) We sleep every night.(d) They go to the beach every weekend.

The simple present tense expresses habits.

In (a): eating breakfast is a habit, a usual activity.

Negatives

For negatives and questions in the simple present tense I always need an auxiliary (or helping verb).

The auxiliaries for the Simple Present Tense are:

DO

DOES

THE SIMPLE PRESENT: NEGATIVEExamples:

(a) I do not drink coffee. We do not drink coffee. You do not drink coffee. They do not drink coffee.

(b) She does not drink coffee. He does not drink coffee. It does not drink coffee.

I we + do not + main verb you they

she he + does not + main verb it

Notice in (b):

In 3rd person singular, there is no –s on the main verb; the final –s is part of does.

CORRECT: She does not drink coffee. INCORRECT: She does not drinks coffee.

(c) I don´t drink tea. They don´t have a car.

(d) He doesn´t drink tea. Mary doesn´t have a car.

CONTRACTIONS:

Do not = don´tDoes not = doesn´t

People usually use contractions when they speak.People often use contractions when they write.

Yes/No Questions

For negatives and questions in the simple present tense I always need an auxiliary (or helping verb).

The auxiliaries for the Simple Present Tense are:

DODOES

Remember

YES/NO QUESTIONS

DO/ DOES +SUBJECT + MAIN VERB + question mark  (in the simple form) ( ? )

Do I Do you Does sheDoes heDoes it live in Aguascalientes ?Do weDo youDo they (a) Do you like coffee?  (b) Does Bob like coffee?

Notice in (b). The main verb in the question does not have a final –s. The final –s is part of does.

INCORRECT CORRECTDoes Bob likes coffee? Does Bob like coffee?

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

Do, don´t, does, and doesn´t are used in short answers to yes / no questions in the simple present

QUESTION SHORT ANSWER

LONG ANSWER

(e) Do you like tea? Yes, I do. Yes, I like tea. No, I don´t . No, I don´t like tea. (f) Does Bob like tea? Yes, he does . Yes, he likes tea. No, he doesn´t . No, He doesn´t like tea.

Information Questions

INFORMATION QUESTIONS WITH “BE” AND “DO”

Q-WORD + BE + SUBJECT COMPLETE ANSWER(a) Where(b) Where(c) When(d) What(e)What time

IsareIsIsIs

Thailand?your books?the concert?your name?it?

Thailand is in Southeast Asia. My books are on my desk. The concert is on April 3rd. My name is Yoko. It is ten-thirty.

Q-WORD + DO/DOES + SUBJECT + MAIN VERB COMPLETE ANSWER

(f) Where do you live?(g) What time does the plane arrive?(h) What do monkeys eat?(k) When does Bob study?

I live in Los Angeles. The plane arrives at six-twelve Monkeys eat fruit, and insects. Bob studies in the evenings.

NOTICE: In questions with be as the main and only verb, the subject follows be. In simple present questions with verbs other than be, the subject comes between do/does and the main verb

Here you have a list of the most common question words:

QUESTION WORD FUNCTION EXAMPLE

whatasking for information about something

What is your name?

 asking for repetition or confirmation

What? I can't hear you.You did what?

what...forasking for a reason, asking why

What did you do that for?

when asking about time When did he leave?

whereasking in or at what place or position

Where do they live?

which asking about choiceWhich colour do you want?

QUESTION WORD

FUNCTION EXAMPLE

whoasking what or which person or people (object)

Whom did you see?

whose asking about ownershipWhose are these keys?Whose turn is it?

why asking for reason, asking what...for

Why do you say that?

why don't making a suggestion Why don't I help you?

how asking about manner How does this work?

asking about condition or quality

How was your exam?

 how + adj/adv

asking about extent or degree

see examples below

QUESTION WORD

FUNCTION EXAMPLE

how far distanceHow far is Pattaya from Bangkok?

how long length (time or space) How long will it take?

how many quantity (countable)How many cars are there?

how much quantity (uncountable)How much money do you have?

how old age How old are you?

how come (informal)

asking for reason, asking why

How come I can't see her?

Now you are ready to use the Simple Present Tense!!!

Ing. Isabel Fernández BeltránCentro de Educación Media de laUniversidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes